History of Charles Parish

Charles Parish was one of the original shires formed in 1634 when the colonies were separate, was located on a peninsula southeast of the Jamestown settlement (1607). Virtually surrounded by water, Charles Parish would become part of York County by mandate of Charles I of England in March, 1642/3. There is much confusion as to the exact dates and names by which the parish was known. There is evidence that it was also known as Charles River County, New Poquoson County, New Towson County, and, perhaps, Yorkhampton County.

What is important is that Charles Parish was the home of three churches during the period before 1648 and continuing until the last church burned in 1789. During these years four church scribes maintained a register of parish births and deaths, The Register of Charles Parish, York County, Virginia, is the oldest volume of records of the Church of Colonial Virginia existing today

  The foundation of the old church is located along Route 706, -Yorktown Road, just east of Route 17, and just west of the current Christian Life Center Church. This is the location of the former Charles Church or Charles Parish. In the photo you can just make out the outlines of the foundations of this historic church.

  The first church established at this site was in 1642. The name was changed several times, and the final Charles Church closed in 1789. There is also a small family graveyard at the front, closer to the road, which is not associated with the church, the Smith Family Cemetery. There is a box tomb quite close to the site but we’re unable to tell if the box tomb (seen below) was old enough to be associated with the church. It could also possibly be the only grave here, or there could be a number of unmarked graves that date back to the time of the church.